Lost Nursing Pin

Published

Hey! I see there's already a thread about "what you think of nursing pins", but I've been online for hours about this and this is my last stop tonight!

Briefly, I got my RN 18 years ago, after 10 years as an NA and LPN. For most of my career, frankly I didn't wear my pin, although at times I had a little clip-on "badge holder" with it and other pins. Two or 3 years ago, it was "lost" at the huge hospital where I worked. Offered $100 cash reward - no luck. Someone could have hocked it for a few bucks, or maybe it fell in a trash can. Since then, I've been out of work due to chronic illness, waiting for disability settlement any day now.

How many seniors and disabled people have I felt for, in their sense of being a "has been" or a "nothing"? I've made a point of not asking people, "What did you USED to do?" (substitute, "What kind of work have you done?"). My point: now it would mean a lot for me to have that school pin, or even a pin from any "St John's Hospital and/or Nursing School". My school merged with a university, and they don't even make those pins any more.

Maybe someone out there has a "St John's" pin that they don't want. Or you may have some info that I have yet to find searching the Web. One site had almost 300 old nursing pins! but not one I could use. Lots of St Mary's and St Luke's,etc, etc.

Finally, let me just say, "Don't be too quick to decide you don't want/need that pin." Try looking down the road a few decades, when you may be retired or disabled or in another field. That pin might be a priceless memento from this unique part of your life. Or you could just go out and get one of those cute "I Love Nursing" pins with the syringe, bandaid, etc!

Oh, I will always be a nurse, whether for pay, as a volunteer, or just as a big part of "who I am".

Thanks for being here:nurse:Marie

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Hey! I see there's already a thread about "what you think of nursing pins", but I've been online for hours about this and this is my last stop tonight!

Briefly, I got my RN 18 years ago, after 10 years as an NA and LPN. For most of my career, frankly I didn't wear my pin, although at times I had a little clip-on "badge holder" with it and other pins. Two or 3 years ago, it was "lost" at the huge hospital where I worked. Offered $100 cash reward - no luck. Someone could have hocked it for a few bucks, or maybe it fell in a trash can. Since then, I've been out of work due to chronic illness, waiting for disability settlement any day now.

How many seniors and disabled people have I felt for, in their sense of being a "has been" or a "nothing"? I've made a point of not asking people, "What did you USED to do?" (substitute, "What kind of work have you done?"). My point: now it would mean a lot for me to have that school pin, or even a pin from any "St John's Hospital and/or Nursing School". My school merged with a university, and they don't even make those pins any more.

Maybe someone out there has a "St John's" pin that they don't want. Or you may have some info that I have yet to find searching the Web. One site had almost 300 old nursing pins! but not one I could use. Lots of St Mary's and St Luke's,etc, etc.

Finally, let me just say, "Don't be too quick to decide you don't want/need that pin." Try looking down the road a few decades, when you may be retired or disabled or in another field. That pin might be a priceless memento from this unique part of your life. Or you could just go out and get one of those cute "I Love Nursing" pins with the syringe, bandaid, etc!

Oh, I will always be a nurse, whether for pay, as a volunteer, or just as a big part of "who I am".

Thanks for being here:nurse:Marie

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Specializes in L&D, OB/GYN clinic.

I graduated from Atlantic Christian College, now Barton College, in Wilson, NC, in 1985. I also lost my original pin. The school had changed it's name and I did not want a Barton College pin. I was able to track down the company that has the original mold. I had two pins made, just in case. If there are any other Atlantic Christian grads out there who need a replacement pin, please, pm me.

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

I wondering if a custom jewelry company might be able to make a replica based on an original provided by an alumni. Have you contacted the university that merged with St. John's? It's possible that they still have the design on file, or that one of the current faculty attended St. Johns. By the way, I have decided to keep my nursing pins tucked away in my jewelry case for safekeeping from now on- it's just too risky to wear them on my badge! Good luck :)

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Specializes in ER, Medicine.

Awww....:flowersfo

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i have seen vintage nursing pins on ebay. wouldn't hurt to check there every so often!? hope you have good luck finding a similar pin.

omgoodness... was that the pin you were looking for???? the one on the site that emmanuel found? how cool is that?????

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You might check eBay frequently. Very often things such as the nursing pin will surface as estate pieces. Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

I feel for ya. I don't even like my pin but I wouldn't part with it for anything. (And no, it's not St. John's.)

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Specializes in LTC.

Is there any way for you to contact your former classmates? It might be fun to see where everyone is now. Then you will have a lot more people on the lookout for you.

There is a section on ebay for Want It Now items. You could describe what you are looking for and see what shows up. I think it's free to do this but don't quote me.

I start a practical nursing program in a few weeks and that pin I will earn means a lot to me right now. Hopefully, you find a replacement for yours soon.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Mine was stolen from my lab coat in the late 70's when everybody was selling all their gold and silver due to the huge appreciation in value. I never got my 14 k one back. But I did find several in the pawn shops around campus. So gold plated is what I have and it's just fine too.

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I like your end quote! Thanks!

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